For every other Sridevi fan, this film must have been that much awaited cinematic confrontation with their dream actress and the superstar of her times (or should I say megastar?). Let me admit that I was never a Sridevi fan in my life (even after watching all her fantastic performances in various characters), however, the temptation to see the actress come back in the celluloid after some 15 years was enough for me go for English Vinglish.
The movie of course speaks about a woman who does know how to speak the language of English- a very unambiguous and common subject considering the backgrounds of middle class Indian family housewives and their extremely "anti-western" exposure. Yet, right at the onset, the film makes mark in the minds of the audience (at least mine) as the lines "for my mother" appears on the screen. Sridevi- the actress who went up to the dizzying heights of fame and popularity across the Indian subcontinent in the early 80s is introduced.
It is perhaps the commonality of the subject that makes this movie so appealing and beautiful.
Hats off to Gauri Shinde for minutely putting up all of these nuances on screen. The superb performances of all the characters (her fellow class mates) in the English class adds up to the entertainment factor of the film and also speaks of the "other" world that we are so ignorant of. Why should an Indian woman be smirked at when a royal French man can say something like "my English is not clean .it is dirty"? we learn.
The movie begins by portraying the mundane chore of a woman- morning tea, tiffin for children, blah, blah common scenarios of every middle class household. In the midst of all this, the revelation of the protagonist gradually takes place.
Sridevi plays that common mother of an ICSE/ international board student who does not know how to speak English and hence fails to strike a chord with her children. (In recent times, this has been the subject matter of some films including Supriya Pathak's character in Wake up Sid).
Her children make fun of her English as she pronounces "jazz" as 'jhaas'. Her husband is no different; he too goes all the way in trampling her spirit and laughing aloud with the kids. With this, the theme of the movie is established.
The rest is only predictable. The woman seething within at every joke cracked at her for her wrong English, develops a resolve to make amends.
Having been to an ICSE board school myself, I could vividly remember the displeasure I felt at times at having to translate a lot of my school activities ( for eg. something that the teacher said ) to my mother and how she used to shy away for turning up at every PTA's.
"For my mother" by the director hence made a tremendous mark in my mind and I am sure it did so for several other girls like me.
In this film, Shashi (Sridevi) is that woman who is completely consumed in the upbringing of her children and attending to the needs of her husband. However, she is a little different from the rest in the line She solemnly pursues something that she loves - making laddoos. Yes, she makes laddoos and sells them and saves the money earned.
Shashi is yet not that woman who earns for herself and is independent. In fact, she cannot share her delights of selling laddoos with her husband who thinks it's a relegated job. She is laughed at almost always for her poor English and feels ignored and deprived of both love and respect by her family.
However, by some cinematic turn of events, Shashi leaves for America to attend her niece's wedding much before her family comes along and much against her wishes. She finds an advertisement that promises to teach English in 4 weeks. So there it goes- Shashi enrolls for the class.
Shashi triumphs in every way, even when it comes to winning the heart of her fellow mates, especially the French man. It was spectacular to watch Shashi and the French man (played by French actor Mehdi Nebbou) speak in Hindi and French respectively to each other while venting out their personal emotions cinematic excellence indeed!
'When someone tells us how beautiful we are, we feel like living that old, jaded and forlorn life again with renewed freshness'- Shashi confesses this to the man who is almost the Yeatsian "face amid a crowd of stars" who "loved the pilgrim soul in her and the sorrows of her changing face".
Shashi teaches us the biggest lesson that we may not be as "judgmental" as others are towards us.
A beautiful film, wonderful performances and a complete heartwarming experience it was.
The humble appeal of English Vinglish and the detailed description of the innuendos of a woman faced with the inability to speak English connect all the dots and make it a complete must watch for all.
P.S- Turned into a Sridevi fan Basked in the glory of Bachchan retreat for some minutes. What else can I ask for?
Puja
Cheers!!
The movie of course speaks about a woman who does know how to speak the language of English- a very unambiguous and common subject considering the backgrounds of middle class Indian family housewives and their extremely "anti-western" exposure. Yet, right at the onset, the film makes mark in the minds of the audience (at least mine) as the lines "for my mother" appears on the screen. Sridevi- the actress who went up to the dizzying heights of fame and popularity across the Indian subcontinent in the early 80s is introduced.
It is perhaps the commonality of the subject that makes this movie so appealing and beautiful.
Hats off to Gauri Shinde for minutely putting up all of these nuances on screen. The superb performances of all the characters (her fellow class mates) in the English class adds up to the entertainment factor of the film and also speaks of the "other" world that we are so ignorant of. Why should an Indian woman be smirked at when a royal French man can say something like "my English is not clean .it is dirty"? we learn.
The movie begins by portraying the mundane chore of a woman- morning tea, tiffin for children, blah, blah common scenarios of every middle class household. In the midst of all this, the revelation of the protagonist gradually takes place.
Sridevi plays that common mother of an ICSE/ international board student who does not know how to speak English and hence fails to strike a chord with her children. (In recent times, this has been the subject matter of some films including Supriya Pathak's character in Wake up Sid).
Her children make fun of her English as she pronounces "jazz" as 'jhaas'. Her husband is no different; he too goes all the way in trampling her spirit and laughing aloud with the kids. With this, the theme of the movie is established.
The rest is only predictable. The woman seething within at every joke cracked at her for her wrong English, develops a resolve to make amends.
Having been to an ICSE board school myself, I could vividly remember the displeasure I felt at times at having to translate a lot of my school activities ( for eg. something that the teacher said ) to my mother and how she used to shy away for turning up at every PTA's.
"For my mother" by the director hence made a tremendous mark in my mind and I am sure it did so for several other girls like me.
In this film, Shashi (Sridevi) is that woman who is completely consumed in the upbringing of her children and attending to the needs of her husband. However, she is a little different from the rest in the line She solemnly pursues something that she loves - making laddoos. Yes, she makes laddoos and sells them and saves the money earned.
Shashi is yet not that woman who earns for herself and is independent. In fact, she cannot share her delights of selling laddoos with her husband who thinks it's a relegated job. She is laughed at almost always for her poor English and feels ignored and deprived of both love and respect by her family.
However, by some cinematic turn of events, Shashi leaves for America to attend her niece's wedding much before her family comes along and much against her wishes. She finds an advertisement that promises to teach English in 4 weeks. So there it goes- Shashi enrolls for the class.
Shashi triumphs in every way, even when it comes to winning the heart of her fellow mates, especially the French man. It was spectacular to watch Shashi and the French man (played by French actor Mehdi Nebbou) speak in Hindi and French respectively to each other while venting out their personal emotions cinematic excellence indeed!
'When someone tells us how beautiful we are, we feel like living that old, jaded and forlorn life again with renewed freshness'- Shashi confesses this to the man who is almost the Yeatsian "face amid a crowd of stars" who "loved the pilgrim soul in her and the sorrows of her changing face".
Shashi teaches us the biggest lesson that we may not be as "judgmental" as others are towards us.
A beautiful film, wonderful performances and a complete heartwarming experience it was.
The humble appeal of English Vinglish and the detailed description of the innuendos of a woman faced with the inability to speak English connect all the dots and make it a complete must watch for all.
P.S- Turned into a Sridevi fan Basked in the glory of Bachchan retreat for some minutes. What else can I ask for?
Puja
Cheers!!